Anne Stupavsky uses words including “positive”, “nice”, “honest” and “candid” to describe herself.

Two words she does not use, but should, are “strong” and “brave”.


Anne Stupasvsky

“I was prepared to die out on my deck,” said the 83-year-old mother of five, grandmother of 10 and great-grandmother of 10.

One Friday at 6 pm this past summer, Anne was on the deck of her home when her right leg gave out. “I didn’t trip or fall or anything. My leg just collapsed.”

It turns out Anne had a fracture in her femur that suddenly gave way. The femur is the thigh bone, the longest, strongest bone in the body. It’s a critical part of the ability to stand and move.

Anne did not bring her cellphone when she went out on the deck. Her “Alexa” device did not hear her requests from the deck to call 911, and her home is not close enough to neighbors that they could hear her calling out. So, Anne laid on the deck in pain for the next 17 hours until someone found her.

She went by ambulance to Blessing Hospital, had surgery and a week-long inpatient stay before being admitted to Blessing’s nationally-accredited rehabilitation unit, a place friends told Anne was, “the best, and the place I needed to be,” to regain her strength and mobility.

Anne says the Blessing rehabilitation team lived up to what she had heard from her friends.

“I cannot say enough good about the staff,” Anne said. “They are all kind, helpful, compassionate and respectful.”

“I was very happy while I was there. I knew I needed to be there. I couldn’t take care of myself at home. I don’t think anybody else was equipped to do that. I felt it was the best place I could be given my physical limitations at the time.”

Anne was so impressed with her Blessing rehabilitation experience, she wanted to do something special.

“I wanted to tell them thank you. I thought about flowers and candy, but also thought that had been done.”

Anne is a creative soul – a piano teacher and art lover. So, she decided to write the following poem to express her gratitude to the Blessing Rehabilitation staff for the care they provided her:

Rehab

When you’re down and out and cannot move,

go to rehab so they can prove,

you’re in the best place you can be,

and that all their care is quality.

 

They have the very best staff,

that you can get.

There is no better; I will bet.

 

Everyone there is helpful and kind.

Because being in so much pain

and helpless, you will find,

they make it so much easier that

pain and difficulty you won’t mind.

 

Lucky was I, since my room was in a great spot.

I had a window with a view of the parking lot!!

But it meant a lot to get to see the sun;

made my life feel like a lot more fun.

 

Staff made sure that I had slept

before I had my therapy;

where initially, I had been inept.

 

You get better each day in therapy.

I wasn’t able to move or take a step.

Before you knew it, I had leapt

to getting in and out of bed and walking.

(Of course, then I started to do more talking!!)

So if you’re lucky, you will be

in Blessing Hospital Rehab therapy.

Love and gratitude,

Anna Stupavsky

9-7-22

“I have reasons to look forward to a lot of things yet in life,” Anne concluded.

About Blessing Rehabilitation Services

Blessing’s comprehensive nationally accredited rehabilitation program offers a wide range of inpatient and outpatient therapy services, so you can find expert care close to home. Our experienced speech, occupational and physical therapists; nursing team; medical social workers; dietitians and clergy partner with our board-certified physicians to deliver the highest level of care with a compassionate touch.

For more about the care available, go to blessinghealth.org/rehab